We’re only a few days away from the season opener in Houston. Safe travels to those heading to Texas. If you’re still making plans, be sure to check the forum for info on where folks are staying, when they’re traveling, how you can meet up, etc.

For those not planning to travel (and who are local to Portland), we will be hosting an away match viewing at Blitz 21 (305 NW 21st.) on Saturday. This is also a Timbers home match day, so parking will be at a premium. Take that into account if you plan on joining us. We’ll have merch available until at least the half (at which point some of us will need to scoot to make it to the Timbers Match – Soccer City, and all). If you’re a card-carrying 107ist, you’ll get a discount. If you’re not, you should seriously consider joining (info here).

This viewing will be 21 and over, but Bazi Bierbrasserie will also be screening the match and they welcome all ages. If you plan on going to Bazi, check their website for info on making a reservation in advance. Over the course of the season, we hope to host viewings across the city and plan on having at least a few of them at all-ages venues.

A little bit more about away travel: we’d love to have a presence at every match this year. If you plan on traveling, please let us know and if you’re a Riveter based in another NWSL city, give a shout. We’ve got a couple of banners we’d like to travel and we will happily send them to you to display at the matches. Check the forum for details.

We also have some non-soccer community stuff coming up. In May, we’ll be joining the Timbers Army in supporting the National Association for Mental Illness (NAMI). The combined TA/Riveters group has set a goal to fundraise $5,000 for the NAMI Walk here in Portland May 18. To join the team or to make a donation, you can go here.

And June 15, we’ll be joining the Timbers Army to march in the Portland Pride Parade. The parade starts at 11 a.m., a home Thorns match will follow at 2 p.m. We’ll have information on signing up to march sometime in the near future and will post here when we have it.